Your Friday Update from the Office of Representative Brad Tabke:
Mark your calendars, Rep. Tabke has quite a few events coming up in the next few weeks. In addition to meetings for the Shakopee Youth and Seniors Advisory Councils, there will be events focused on cannabis, the Census, and the upcoming legislative session. Each gathering is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with legislators and have open conversations. You can always find details for these events by following Rep. Tabke’s official Facebook page.
The 2020 Festival of Ideas is tomorrow, January 11 at the Shakopee Public Library. We want to give you the opportunity to bring forward ideas, concerns, and priorities for improving our community. You can find more information on our Facebook event page.
Other January Events:
New Laws:
On January 1, the last of the major legislation we passed in 2019 went into effect. Middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) – which have played a significant role in the increase in prescription drug prices – now have new transparency requirements. Prescription drug prices are the number one driving force in increasing health care costs and this new law will shine a light on the companies bringing home a profit at Minnesotans' expense.
As part of our new opioid stewardship law, medical professionals are now required to take classes to learn about best practices in prescribing pain medications. This education requirement is just one part of our broader strategy to combat the opioid epidemic.
You can read more about these measures from House Public Information Services here.
Other News:
- Huge thank you to Adopt a Smile, which recently donated 105 hours of their time for preventative cleanings, treatments, and oral hygiene for over 40 Shakopee students who wouldn't otherwise receive care. You can read more about their work here.
- There are two new episodes of the Shakopee Podcast! Get caught up below.
- Ahead of our community conversation on cannabis, Rep. Tabke sat down with Majority Leader Ryan Winkler to discuss the effort to legalize adult-use cannabis in Minnesota. You can listen here.
Rep. Tabke discussed the "Restore the Vote" movement and criminal justice reform with Elections Chair Raymond Dehn, listen here.
Have a great weekend!
Brad Tabke, State Representative
Adeline Miller, Legislative Assistant